Wichita eagle., 1887-07-06
4 LEGEND OF MEXICO.

4 LEGEND OF MEA[CO.
Marina Anava was one of the Ioveliest
nlaidens of Eueva Hispana- Hers was that
rare beauty, at once glowing and gentle, that
fills the hearts OF men and women alike with
yearning tenderness. "On her sweet face
blessing!r said hideous beggar crone, one
day on the Paseo, turning to look alter tae
girl; lit would warm my heart to clasp her
in nv arms. The day seems brighter, the
world seems better, since she came near. l
long to serve her-to put myself between her
and some danger"
In short Marina was one OF the few beings
gifted with the faculty of winning the love OF
all. She had not an enemy IN the world.
She lived simple life enough in the home Of
her parents, making their lives bright, going
her daily round with an even cheerfulness OF
spirit, and gladly taking her share of such
amusement and social sunshine as was pos
sible with the women of her day and race.
She was no saint, Marina, but neither was
she coquette, a scold, bigot, nor an empty
headed doll-but sweet, true, pure minded
woman. 1t was deemed strange, in her wide
circle of acquaintance, that Marina had no
from she needed but raise her finger. But she
elected not to choose. "Why should l wed!'
she would say when questioned with urgence,
simply to have husbandl But what is a
husband worth if he be not dear9 And bet
ter that I should live to robe the saints. as is
our saying, than to marry but for that it is the
custom and afterward meet one to whom all
the heart goes forth. Ay Dios! what misery.
T nI,,I-y ,%-J rr-. ND
| until they send me from their home, l will
| not marry, unless l come to love!" And in
| that day, to follow a course required even
| more than to-day of firmness, resolution and
| singleness of purpose.
Marina had her reward. There came a
| change in the viceroyalty-the viceroys were
| changed sometimes; the regal master occasion
ally opined that his representative thought Of
the subject first; and now and again one en-
barked for another kingdom, to render there
account of his earthly craftsmanship. Thus,
| a new vceroy came to Mexico, and with him
came Leonel de Ia Montana, a comely youth
| of ancient lineage, specially detailed by Philip
the Second for the journey to the new world.
| He was noble handsome, rich. Was aught
| else lackings Midst the dissolute youth Of
| the day might one look for saint? Such,
|
a soldier, who had fought well and to his own
| fame in the campaigns of Flanders, and he
| had a soldiers faults. But he was also a
brave and knightly man, whose sins were
never base nor loathsome, and, judged by the
standard of the time, he was exceptional as
| 30 honor and morals.
| He met Marina soon after his arrival, who
shall say how and where2 on the paseo OF
| those days, at church, or at one of the infre-
! quent tertulias OF the time? And from the
| first time he saw her, he lived and breathed
| but for Marina Anaya, and he made his
| court with such eager assiduity that they
were soon bethrothed. And Marina found in
her lover the fnlfllnent of her ideal, the reali.
cation of that standard, lacking which 81
had been content to live unwedded. Her
every wish ard aspiration were satisfied by
the excellences of LeoneL If only she could
persuade him that such was the truth For
the one thing that marred her perfect happi
ness, the one blemish in character otherwise
all symmetrical, was the terrible strain OF
| jealousy in his nature. 1t may have been
| tho prOverbial modesty of the true lover
making him feel sense of his own unworthi
ness. But, whatever the motive, it seemed
to him impossible that he should keep the
love of Marina, widely beloved and charming
as she was When he gazed upon her, be
could not believe that she should not be tickle
armed with the wondrous power her beauty
gave her, and it maddened him to think heI
heart might swerve to another
An immediate marriage might have salts
fed him of the good faith of Marina, but
lust after the betrothal the death of distant
relative threw tho Anayas into mourning
after the fashion Of the rigorous etiquette Of
the Spaniards, and as soon as they dotted the
sable suits Of complimentary woe, Lent wa:
at hand, and no one who lays claim to good
taste marrIes in Cuaresrna, even now, wher
more liberal ideas prevail. How much les
readily then, when all the world was undel
/ priestIy rule. Lent over, Marina's father
especially requested that the nuptials Should
be deferred until the arrival from Spain Of
favorite brother, uncle Of the prosperity,
bri e.
al these delays were odious and even mad
deaing to De la Montana. He tor1nentec
himself with constant breeding upon them
until the reasons assigned, all logical anc
weighty to the formal precision of the rae
and generation, seemed to him strained
frivolous and improbable. From such con
clusion it required no violent effort Of {
| morbid fancy to advance step farther, anc
| Leonel persuaded himself that Marina wa.
tired of him, that she had never loved him
that she desired to break the bonds Of theil
betrothal, and that all these procrastination
were oninous tokens signifying that wisi
and a means of gradual approach to such
rupture. His jealous passion increased, bat
tening upon his misery, until the man ha6
almost become insane. And the full measure
Of his own suffering ne held to the trouble
lips Of poor Marina. Every absurd pretex
] was TO him a theme Of complaint and re
preach He found a source OF grievance il
the situation OF the Anaya dwelling, on on.
OF the main thoroughfares, favo-ite prom
euade OF the young Spaniards, who naturally
passed thither, not the less because Of Ma
rina's beauty. The praises laviShed upon be
annoyed him as much SIS II the girl haC
courted them !. bad CONE TO pass that ever
interview between the lovers resolved itsel
int bitterness and reproaches- and Marin:
was half wild with distress. she loved Leone
most dearly, and she could not doubt th
erior Of his love for her, as its very intensity
was TIE source OF his mad jealousy over th
fasaI charm of her beauty.
At last one morning De Ia Montana passet
the house aud found Il closed His Elorbis
fancy at once pictured rival behind til
r7asslve shutters Of the iron barred windows
rsakin. Lis suit TO Marina, perhsrs-oE
saints IN MISUNDERSTANDING his cause, and
PER- aasiing her 10 discard the jealous lover.
borrowed by the thought, he WAS fastening
- knock q. tie EagEal trhe great street